Gauge rod



Dec. Z2, i925- N. EQ sALslcH GAUGE ROD Filed Sept. 20. 1922 Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES NEIL E. SALSICI-I, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.,

GAUGE ROD.

Application led September 20, 1922.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, NEIL E. SALsroi-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethlehem, county of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gauge Rods, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to gauge rods for railway use and has for its object the provision of a gauge rod of great simplicity and strength, which is adjustable, and which may be quickly converted from a noninsulated into an insulated gauge rod whenever desired. This may be accomplished by the addition of an insulating member carried independently of the rod andadapted to be attached thereto when the occasion requires.

One form of the invention will be herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the gauge rod, the jaws of the rod being insulated from each other.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the adjustable rail engaging member shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the insulating member removed, and,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fibre bushing which constitutes the insulating member.

The rod comprises a main member 1() having an integral jaw or hook member 11 adapted to extend around and engage the base flange of a rail, the opposite end of the rod being threaded, a separately formed jaw or hook member' 12 having a central aperture 13 through which the threaded end of the rod 10 extends, a washer 14 bearing against an annular surface on the outer side l of jaw 12, and two securing nuts 15 having threaded engagement with the end of rod 10 and holding the movable jaw against movement away from the fixed jaw. By adjusting the nuts 15, the jaw or hook member 12 may be moved toward the jaw or hook member 11, or allowed to be moved away therefrom, longitudinally of rod 10, and the gauge width thereby regulated.

The rod 10 and its integral jaw or clip member 11 are preferably constructed from forged steel. The adjustable jaw or clip member 12 is preferably made from forged steel; and the design of the latter member,

Serial No. 589,412.

as illustrated, lends itself readily to roduction by forging processes. The adjustablejaw or clip member comprises a top portion 18 and a bottom portion 19, the bottom portion being depressed at 20 to define a U-shaped part which communicates or registers with an opening or aperture 21 extending through the material of the clip. The U-shaped portion is provided with lateral flanges 22 adapted to engage beneath the bottom of a rail, and the top portion 18 extends upwardly and over the U-shaped portlon 'and is adapted to engage the top surface of an outside Flange of afrail. The passageway in the clip afforded by the interior of the U-shaped portion 19 and the aperture 21 is sutliciently larger than the rod 10 to accommodate an insulating bushing 16. An insulating bushing may or may not be used without in any way altering the structure of the clip. In Figs. 1 and 2, I .show an insulating bushing in place, and, in Fig. 3, I show the clip assembled with respect to a gauge rod and without a bushing. In order that the clip may be used with or without a bushing, I provide a washer 14 which is larger than the aperture 21 and which has an opening to [it over the threaded rod. I,Vith the bushing` inserted, the nut means 15 is screwed up, causing the clips 11 and 12 to approach and to engage the outer iianges of the rails of a track under pressure, the pressure of the nut means being 'transmit-ting to the movable clip through the washer and the ange 17 of the insulating` bushing. In case the insulating bushingis omitted, as is shown in Fig. 3, the washer 14 engages the outer face of the clip and serves to cause the latter to move inwardly and engage both the top surface of an outer flange and the bottom surface of a rail.

Where it is desired to insulate the jaws so that no electrical current can pass through the rod, the bushing 16 is added. This bushing has a cylindrical portion which extends through the aperture 13 in jaw 12 and surrounds rod 10 so that the jaw and rod are insulated, and has a flange 17 which is adapted to insulate the washer 14 from the jaw 12. The bushing is of fibre, preferably, and adapted to stand great strain without weakening or allowing the leakage of current. The fibre bushing is so placed that it does not come into contact with parts subject to heavy wear and consequently has long life.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that l have devised a tie or gauge rod construction which is suitable for maintaining the gauge of tracks at curves or switches or vwherever lateral thrusts tending to spread the rails are likely to occur.

rlhe advantages of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art. It is only necessary to have one type of gauge rod, which may be readily converted into an insulated gauge rod by the addition of the libre bushing, so that by carrying a stock oif fibre bushings either insulated or non-insulated gauge rods may be had as desired. lleretofore it has been found necessary to carry two types of rods in stock, one type insulated and the second non-insulated and thus, in accordance with the present invention, a considerable duplication of rods is avoided. lt will be apparent that the principle of the invention may be embodied in structures of widely different character.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination, with a gauge rod having an integral rail clip at one end and having its other end threaded, of a movable clip for the threaded end including a bottom lil-shaped portion adapted to bear against the bottom of a rail, said tl-shaped portion communicating` with an aperture extending through the clip, a top flange portion extending upwardly and over the U- shaped portion and adapted to engage the top surface of an outer rail flange, nut means carried by the threaded end of the rod, and means disposed between the clip and the nut means, whereby, when the latter is screwed up, the clips are caused to approach to engage the outer flanges of the rails of a track.

2. The combination, with a gauge rod having an integral rail clip at one end and having its other end threaded, of a movable clip for the threaded end including a bottom U-shaped portion having lateral flanges adapted to bear against the bottom of a rail, said U-shaped portion communicating with an aperture extend ing through the cli p, a top flange portion extending upwardly and over Yhe ifi-shaped portion and adapted to engage the lop surface of an outer rail flange, nut means carried by the threaded end ol the rod, and means disposed between the clip and the nut means, whereby, when the latter is screwed up, the clips are caused to approach to engage the outer flanges of the rails of a track.

El. The combination, with a gauge rod having an integral rail clip at one end and having its other end threaded, of a movable clip for the threaded end including a bottom Ueshaped portion with lateral flanges adapted to bear against the bottom of` a rail, said icl-'shaped portion communicating with an aperture extending through the clip and said U-shaped portion and aperture being sufficiently larger than the rod to receive a bushing therebetween, a top flange portion extending upwardly and over the et shaped portion and adapted to engage the 'top surface et' an outer rail flange, 'nut means carried by the threaded end of the rod outside of the movable clip, and spacing means oetween the nut means and the movable clip including a washer larger than the aperture and fitting about the threadec rod.

In testimony whereof l hereunto afin; my signature.

NE1L E. SLSlCH. 

